Coke-oven



H. W. BUHLER.

COKE OVEN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23, 1911.

1,341,258. Patented May 25,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR ,4 TTORNE Y H. W. BUHLER.

COKE OVEN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1911.

341,258. Patented May 1920.

5 SHEETS T 3- 2.9a INVENTOR /7a g 5 28 27 v i5 d a 28 ATTORNEY COKEOVEN.

Patented May 25,1920;

\ 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

H. W. BUHLER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 23. 1911.

' ATTORNEY H. w. BUHLER.

COKE OVEN.

0 2 9 1 5 2 W M m m a P. P aw W D H N 0 H A w H P A 5 SHEETSSHEET 5-INVENTOR HENRY W. BUHLER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

COKE-OVEN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 25, 1920.

Application filed February 23, 1917. Serial No. 150,579.

To (.465 whom it may concern Be it known that l, HENRY \V. BUHL'ER, acitizen of the United States of America, re siding at Boston, county ofSuffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful.Improvements in oke-Ovens, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the utilization of highly combustible, orquickly burning fuels, such as coal gas, in situations where it isdesiralde to extend the area of combustion beyond the zone or limits inwhich it would. normally occur if a jet of pure were employed withordinary air, preheated or not, as a supporter of such combustion.

In the practice and use of industrial turnaces, it is frequentlynecessary to secure a long, even flame of combustion. This isparticularly true of coke ovens which are constantly increasing in. sizeand of which the con'ibustion chambers must be correspondinglylengthened or heightened. In the useot coal gas, the combustion does notnormally take place at a uniform rate, but is usually most intensivenear the burners, or, in other words, the first point of contact of thegas and air. From the initial point of combustion, the intensity ofcombustion falls off more or less rapidly according to the character ofthe burners and the method of combining the combustible and oxidizingagent.

The particular object of this invention is to secure in a coke oven ofany type having either horizontal or vertical fines, with or withoutregeneration or recuperation, means for producing a long, smooth flamewhich will give such a distribution otl': heat throughout the length ofthe heating fines as may be desired. In some types of coke ovens, it maybe necessary to have the most intense combustion near the burner, andvin others, at the point farthest removed from the burners. The processconstituting the principal feature of my present invention permits theregulation of the flame so that at will its character may be changed tosuit the conditions and design of the coking structure or other heatingapparatus employed. By my invention this result is accomplished bysuitably diluting the highly combustible as at the nozzle of the burneror before the nozzle is reached, with a practically inert gas wherebythe rapidity of combustion is delayed. While my invention may be putinto operation with many different forms of apparatus, two Off the bestforms of such apparatus at present known to me are illus trated in theaccompanying drawings in whichk u Figure 1 a section on the line 44-13of 1 1g. 2, and G-H of Fig. 4, and shows a vertical section through thegas burners and flues alternately used for air and gas or for wastegas.

, Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line KL of Fig. 1 and C-D of Fig.4, looking to the left, the section plane passing through a heating flueto which gas and air are being supplied. i

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line M-N oi. Fig. 1 and E-F of Fig.4, looking to the left, the section plane passing through a heating linefrom which waste gas is being discharged.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section on the line l--J of Fig. 1, lookingdownward, and shows the staggering of the air and gas connections in thebase of the heating flues, the dotted arrows indicating the direction offlow of the materials for, and products of combustion.

Figs. 1 to 4 illustrate the application of my invention to a cokingapparatus of the type shown in my pending application Serial. No.144,961, filed Jan. 47, 1917.

Fig. is a vertical section through Fig. (i on the line A-B, looking tothe right.

Fig. 6 is a partial end view or elevation of Fig. 5, and (so far as theportion to the left of line X-Y is concerned) a vertical section on lineR-S of F ig. These figures of drawing illustrate the application of myinvention to a coking apparatus of the type shown in my U. S. Patent No.1,814,841, dated Oct. 28, 1919.

Throughout the drawings like reference 4 characters indicate like parts.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, coking-cham' hers 1, are formed by aplurality of Walls 2. Bonding walls 5, and 5, (connecting walls 2, 2)form a series of vertical heating fines 3 and 4. These tlues areconnected and operated in pairs, as shown in Fig. 1, and as describedin. my application Serial No. 144,961. Access to the fines is hadthrough the top 11, of the even by means of ports 9, closed by covers10. At the top of each pair of lines is a connecting passage or port 7,formed in extensions 6, of the bonding walls the area of which may beVaried by adjustment of the movable damper 8.

Gas for combustion may be taken from the storage holder 23, by means ofpipe 24, and branch pipes 25 and 25, each of which supplies one of twoseries or burners. Gas main 25, supplies pipes 27, and burners 29,controlled by cocks 28. These burners 29, ultimately discharge intoflues 4, 4. Gas main 25, through gas cock 28, and pipe 27, suppliesburners 29, which ultimately discharge into flues 3, 3. Gas mains 25,and 25, each have a regulating valve 26, and 26. Burners 29, primarilydischarge into mixing chambers 14, formed in the outer concentric pipes14, and burners 29, primarily discharge into similar mixing chambers 14in pipes 14. A removable nozzle 13, rests on the open end of each outerpipe 14, and a similar nozzle 13, on each pipe 14. These nozzles and theextensions of pipes 14, 14, beyond the ends of burners 29, and 29, formthe mixing chambers 14.

The diluent gas may be conveniently taken from the chimney fine 22, bymeans of an exhauster 21, which supplies main 20, having two branches 18and 18, controlled by valves 19, 19, which supply each one of the twoseries of pipes 14, 14, through regulating cocks 17 and 17, and branchpipes 16, 16. These pipes 14, 14, are inserted in vertical passageways12, 12, in the bottom walls of the fines, communicating with the heatingflues 3 and 4. These passageways are closed at their lower ends bycovers 15, 15. Nozzles 13, 13, discharge into the passageways 12, 12, atpoints below the base of the heating fines.

In the arrangement shown in the drawings, Figs. 1 to 4, valve 26, issupposed to be open and gas flowing through burners 29, to flues 4. Airfor combustion then enters through sole flue 30, and is delivered toeach vertical fine 4, through passageways 31, 32, and bore 33, of flueconnection 34, inserted in vertical passageway 35, through the bottomwall of the fine. 34, is held in place by a plug' 36, which, togetherwith cap 37, closes the lower portion of passageway Parts marked 30, 31,32, 33, 34, 35, 36, and 37, performsimilar functions cotiperating withburners 29., when they are supplied with gas through main 25, to producecombustion in lines 3, 3, during the other cycle of operation of thisreversible apparatus. In these figures showing the materials forcombustion being fed up into fines 4, the gases of combustion are shownpassing from flues 4, through ports 7, into and down through flues 3, sothat passages 33, 32, 31, serve as an outlet for the burnt gasestocollecting flue 30, and no gas is supplied to burners 29, valve 26,being closed.

The operation oi this apparatus according to my method is as follows:

Combustion takes place in the heating fines 4, and the waste productspass down and out of heating lines 3. From the gas holder 23, throughmains 24, and 25, branch pipes 27, and burners 29, is admitted to theupper part or mixing chamber 14*", of each pipe 14. The amount of gasadmitted to pipe 25, which supplies the gas for one oven may beregulated by cook 26, and the amount of gas admitted to each burner maybe regulated by the branch cocks 28. From the chimney flue 22, or anyother convenient source by means of the exhauster 21, diluent main 20,and branch main 18, the (liluent waste gas which is practicallyincombnstible is admitted to each mixing chamber 14, through branchpipes 16, controlled by cock 17, and vertical pipe 14.

In the mixing chambers 14, the combustible gas and diluent gas arethoroughly mixed, the stream of combustible gas being forced into thebody of diluent gas in mixing chambers 14", and the mixture so formed,and rising through the nozzle 13, and passageway 12, is disclmrged-intoheating flue 4.

Preheated air for combustion enters through the sole flue 30,passageways 31, 32, and bore 33, oi? flue connection 34, and, coming incontact with the diluted combustible gas, combustion begins in theheating fine 4, continues up that flue, through connecting passagewaysor ports 7, and down heating line 3, the waste products of combustionbeing discharged into bore 33, of flue comiection 34 and throughpassageways 32 and 31, into sole flue 30, which is serving as acollecting fine for the two sets of combustion lines on either side theoven 1, above it.

l pon reversal, the directions of flow of all materials and products ofcombustion are reversed in the manner usual in reversible regenerativeovens. all as set forth in my pending application Serial No. 144,961.

W'hile ordinarily the diluent waste gas is supplied only to the set ofburners in operation, it may become advisable to inject diluent wastegas into all burners continuously, so that during the period of oil gasall the mixing chambers 14, nozzles 13 and 13, and. passages 12, and 12.may

be scavenged. In such case the diluent gas supplied to the fines fromwhich burnt gases are being discharged will simply pass over directly tothe waste gas outlets as indicated by curved arrows in Fig. 3. This willalso serve to reduce the temperature of the outlet passages if the wastegases are overheating them.

It will be seen that by this arrangement it is possible to regulate atwill the amounts each of combustible gas, diluent inert gas and air forcombustion. (the latter by variable sized flue connections serving asairnozzles 34, and 34) so that the character and rate of combustion andamplitude of flame in the heating fiues may be varied as desired. Allthe nozzles, tubes, valves, 'etc., of the combustible gas, diluent inertgas, and air supply connection may be easily removed and inspected andburnt-out pieces replaced.

By making the fines 3 and 4, of elongated cross section and placing thefuel inlets near one end and the air inlet near the other end of eachflue cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, it is possible to separate theseinlets by a considerable distance and this also tends to delay orprolong combustion, thus extending the zone of combustion farther up theflue and disseminating the heat more Widely.

In Figs. 5 and 6 are shown similar coking chambers ll, til, which are,however, heated by a series of superimposed horizontal heating flues 42,formed by walls 43, and 44;. These heating lines 42, communicate with avertical fine 49, through re stricted ports 48, formed in end walls -15.The area of the cross section of the ports 48, may be varied by movabledampers 46, held in place by projections 47, and operated through thepassageway 51, in the top wall or roof 53. Passageway 51, is normallyclosed; by dampers 50, and 52. The products of combustion pass down flue49, are discharged through an outlet dampered by tile 54, all asdescribed in my pending application Serial No. 144,170.

Diluent gas is supplied to the heating fines 42, from the mains 55,through branch pipes 56, regulated by cocks 57, and nozzles 58, intomixing chamber 59". This diluent gas may be taken as before from achimney flue by a fan not shown. Combustible gas is supplied by main 60,from which it is distributed to each of the heating flues by branchpipes 61, controlled by cocks ('32, and burners 59. Mixing chambers 59',discharge into refractory nozzles 63, having orifices 64.

Air for combustion is supplied to each flue from a vertical air channel65, by means of ports 67, controlled by dampers 66. This air may or maynot be pre-heated, as desired.

The process as applied to such a coke oven with horizontal heating finesshown in Figs. 5 and 6, and above described briefly, is the same as thatpreviously described with regard to its use with reversible regenerativeovens, except that in this example the flow of gas is positive,continuous and not reversible, and a 'jet or stream of diluent gas isdischarged into a concentric body oi combustible gas in each mixingchamber 59", instead of the reverse arrangement described with referenceto chamber 14!.

Combustible gas from the main 60, in regulated amounts is delivered intothe mixing chambers 59", Diluent inert gas supplied from main 55, inregulated quantity is also delivered into the mixing chambers 59. Thisbecoming thoroughly intermingled with the combustible gas, the mixtureis discharged through orifices (34, of nozzles 63, into the heatinglines 4.2, where it meets the air for combustion delivered through ports(57, and combustion takes place along the entire length of the heatingfines 42. The products of combustion pass out through the dampered ports48, and down. the vertical line l9. As in the previous case describedwith reiiirence to Figs. 1 to 4i, the quantities of diluent inert gasand air supplied to each burner may be regulated at will so that therate, character and fll'lli llltiltlk of combustion may be controlledthroughout the length of the heating fines.

The great ad 'antage of my proce the complete control oi the chi. ilocation of comliustion which it gives without adding to the work thrownupon. the rcgenerators or recnperators. The amount oi? air required tosupport (.Ollll'llltltlOll of a given amount 0'! fuel designed. toproduce a, given amount of heat in the combustion fines is notincreased. Conseipu-intly, the standard practice may be followed indesigning the regenerators and. recuperators, gas mains and burners andall other parts of the plant, and costs kept down to s'aimlard figures.All that is necessary is to add the s at em oi piping and the exhausterrequired to draw a small quantity of waste from the chimney flue anddeliver it to the burners or fuel mains. The volume of diluent gasrequired will rarely exceed that of the combustible gas and usually willbe less. It will not therefore increasi the volume of materials forcombustion. delivered to the heating fines and the volume of products ofcombustion, more than 15 per cent over the figures applying where thesame quantity of fuel is burned under standard practice. Usually theincrease will. be much less than 15 per cent, and no increase in sizeo'l eon'ibustion fines or other passages will be necessary. The rate orspeed of combustion can be, however, cut down about one half and thecompletion o'l. oxidation of the fuel. thereby dela-yed until the outletfrom the fines is reached, or nearly reached, so that all portions ofthe adj acent retorts are evenly heated by the extended zone ofcombustion so created. If on the other hand this result were sought tobe obtained by diluting the air with an inert (instead of diluting thecombustible as in my invention) the volume of gases created would beincreased nearly 1.00 per cent and much larger flues and much largerregenerators' or reeuperators would have to be built, and about fivetimes as large a volume of diluent gas would have to be handled by thefan. In contrast to all this, my invention can be applied to existingcoking apparatus without changing the existing structure, only a littleextra piping and a small fan or exhauster being required in addition tothe old plant.

I wish it understood that various changes can be made in the details ofconstruction here shown and described without departing from thesubstance of my invention so long as the general principles oi operationand coaction of parts herein set forth are preserved.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. In a heating apparatus the combination of a central vertical burnertube open at the top, a source of combustible gas, means connecting theburner at its bottom to said source of combustible gas, an outerconcentric burner having its upper end projecting beyond the inner tube,a source of practically inert diluent gas, and means connecting theloWer end of said outer tube to said source of diluent gas.

2. In a heating apparatus the combination of a central vertical burnertube open at the top, a source of combustible gas, means connecting theburner tube at its bottom to said source of combustible gas, an outerconcentric burner tube having its upper end projecting beyond the innertube, a source oil? practically inert diluent gas, and means connectingthe lower end of said outer tube to said source of? diluent gas,together with a valve in each connecting means.

3. In a heating apparatus the combination of a central. vertical burnertube open at the top, a. source 011? combustible gas, means connectingthe burner tube at its bottom to said source of combustible gas, anouter roncentric burner tube having its upper end projecting beyond theinner tube, a source of practically inert diluent gas, and meansconnecting the lower end of said outer tube to said source of diluentgas, together with a nozzle of refractory material mounted in the upperend of the outer tube.

In a heating apparatus the combination of a central vertical burner tubeopen at the top, a source of combustible gas, means connecting theburner tube at its bottom to said source of combustible gas, an outerconcentric burner tube having its upper end projecting beyond the innertube, a source of practically inert diluent gas, and means eonnectingthe lower end of said outer tube to said source of diluent gas, togetherwith a removable nozzle of refractory material mounted in the upper endof the outer tube.

HENRY lV. BUHLER.

